Portable public address system



April 20, 1954 D. D. HUNT PORTABLE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 22, 1955 -INVENTOR 6 w A .3, 7 i 4 i April 20, 1954 D. D. HUNT 2,676,207

PORTABLE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM Filed May 22. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 20, 1954 D D HUNT 2,676,207

PORTABLE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM Filed May 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z f@ ze 3T j@ 0 nl# 53 5w 3/ gsfzfhf! fr' Z5 Z/ INVENTOR Patented Apr. 20, 1954 FFIC 2,676,207 Vromanica PUBLio ADDRESS SYSTEM Donovan D. Hunt, Louisville, Ky. Application May 22, 195s, Serial No. 356,329

9 Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to a novel supporting structure for a public address system and more particularly to a supporting structure adapted to be worn by the user for supporting a public address system including selfcontained current source to thereby provide an apparatus of ex tremely simple construction affording a complete portable public address unit which may be employed anywhere and wherein the user is free to move rat ,will from vplace to place without limitation as to distance While using the apparatus. l `More particularly, it is an aim oi" the present invention to provide'a portable public address system especially adapted for use in warehouse and'cutdoor auctioneering and elsewhere where electric current is not available, and which may also be eiiectively used for numerous other pur poses such as outdoor lecturing and teaching.

Avfurther object of the invention is to provide `a portable public address system which will cornfortablyv and conveniently t the body of the user, which is extremely light in weight and durable and which may be conveniently utilized for long periods of time without being a burden to the user and without straining the voice.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustratinga presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the complete apparatus;

" Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof looking from left to right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line S'-3 of Figure l and on an enlarged scale; Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line ll--Li of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along' a plane as indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 'iof Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic viewof the public address system; K

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical Sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure l;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line i Ei-i of Figure 1;

Figure 11 ls an enlarged fragmentary Vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line il-Ii of Figure l, and

Figure l2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line iiil2 or' Figure 1.

Referring more Specifically to the drawings, the portable, self-contained public address system in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally it and includes a harness, designated generally it, which is detachably secured to the upper portion of the body of the user and supported thereon.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 5, the body engaging harness lli includes a lower waist circling portion, designated generally il', including a section it Vwhich engages across the back and along the sides of the body and which is Shaped for coniormably `tting said body portions. As seen in Figure 5, the section it preferably includes a strap formed of an outer ply it'and an inner ply 2G. Said plies are preferably formed oi' leather and. suitably secured together adjacent their longitudinal edges as by stitching, as indicated at 2 i. The inner ply 2li is of suicient width, relatively to the width of the outer ply i9, so as to be bulged away from said outer ply to accommodate therebetween a reiniorcing bar 22 which is preierably formed'V of a substantially rigid metal or similar material. The bar 22 is disposed against the inner side of the outer ply i9 and the section i8 additionally includes suitable padding 23 disposed between the plies i9 and 2li and particularly lbetween the inner ply 2t and the reinforcing bar 22; The waist circling member il also includes a Vllexble Strap 2t one end of which is secured to an end oi the member i8 by a suitable fastening 25. A buckle 26 is secured to the other end of the Strap 2li. A second strap 2i is secured at one end by a fastening 2li to the other end of said section It and the other, free end thereof is vconnected in a conventional manner to the buckle 2t.

A pair of'side brace bars 2t are secured to the side portions oi' the section `it near the ends thereof by fastenings til. Said side brace bars extend upwardly from the section iii and are inwardly bowed, as illustrated in Figure l. The side brace bars 29 are enclosed in sheaths or coverings 3i, preferably formed oi' leather and containing padding 32 between an inner ply 33 of each sheath 3l and the bar 29. The sheaths 3i extend from the upper ends of said brace bars 2t downwardly to adjacent the section E8. A pair of substantially rigid supporting bars 34 are secured at their lower ends by fastenings 35 to the intermediate, rear portion of the section I8 and extend upwardly therefrom and are provided with inwardly bowed portions, as best illustrated in Figure 2, which are enclosed inV casings or sheaths 36 which additionally contain padding 31, located between the inwardly bowed portions of the bars 313k and the inner plies 38 ofi said 3 sheaths. The sheaths 3| and 36 are preferably formed of flexible material such as leather and the padding 32 and 31 and likewise the padding 23 provide a cushioning contact between the harness portions and thebody of the wearer'. best seen in Figure 1, the upper end portions of the supporting bars 34 are flared outwardly with. respect to one another above the sheaths 36. A short length of pipe or tubing 39has the end portions thereof lclamped between thefupper end of the supporting bars 34 and a pair of clamp sections 43 which are secured to said lbars 34y above and below the pipe 39 by adjustable nut and bolt fastenings 4|, as best illustrated in Figure 9. A pair of metal braces 42 are secured at their upper ends to the bars 34 between the upper ends of the sheaths 36 and the lower ends of the clamps 46, and the lower ends of said brace bars 42 are secured to the side brace bars 23, beneathL and adjacent the sheaths 3|. The brace bars 42 are bowed outwardly to engage around the sides and back of the harness wearer.

A pair of shoulder straps 43 have complementary loop ends 44 which are attached around the pipe or tubing 33, near the ends thereof and said straps 43 extend forwardly over the shoulders of the wearer' and are provided with buckles 45 at the opposite ends; thereof which are disposed over the chest and adjustably secured to the upper ends of apair of front straps 46, constituting lower sections of the shoulder straps 43. The front straps 46 have looped lower ends 41 through which the straps 24 and 21 extend.

A small instrument panel 48 is demountably supported in front of the body of the user by a pair of short straps 49`which are connected to and extend from the ends of the panel 48 and which have eyes or slits 50 to detachably engage buttons carried by the straps 46. A conventional amplifying unit 52 has hanger loops 53 attached thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, The loops 53 detachably engage hooks 54 which are pivotally supported as seen at 55 in Figure on the pipe 39. The parts 53 and 54 constitutey a part of the present yinventioirand constitute a ready means fordemountablysupporting the amplier 52 on the harness |6. A

A tubular supporting standard 56has a lower end which rests on the intermediate portion `of the pipe 39 and is secured thereto byv a metal strap member 51 and nut and bolt fastenings 5 8, as best illustrated in Figure 1l. Thefstandard 56 has a forwardly turned upper end 59 which is disposed at a suliicient height, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, to readily clear the head of a person wearing the harness, I6. The portion 5,3, has a partially flat upper portion 66 to be ref ceived in the bifurcated lower end of a rigidJlink member, designated generally 6|. A bolt 62 extends through the furcations of the bifurcated link portion 63 and through the standard portion 65 for pivotally mountingthe link `for swinging movement in a vertical plane on saidstandard. The bolt 62 is engaged by awing nut 64 which is tightened to clamp the link 6| indifferent ad-` justed positions to the standard portion 60.. A, strap loop 65 is disposed around and` securedto a portion of a conventional loud speaker l66 and has a downwardly offset bottom portion y31 which is disposed above and supported on a top portion 68 of the link 6|. A double headed Ypin or rivet 69 forms a swivel connection between the portions 61y and 68 so that the loudspeaker 66 may be' swung in a complete circle about the link 6| and relatively to the standard 56 and may be CII 4 rocked with said link 6| either upwardly or downwardly in a vertical plane so that the enlarged open end of the loud speaker 66 may be disposed to face in any direction. A friction washer 10 isinterposed between the pgrtions-SI and 63 to prevent the loud speaker from swiveling freely about the link 6| and so that said loud speaker may be maintained in any desired position relatively to thestan-dard 56.

A conventional microphone 1| is attached to one end of a resilient neck engaging band 12 which forms ari-open loop which is suspended loosely around the neck of the user. The ends of the resilient loop 12 are. adapted to bear against the chest so that the microphone 1I may be readily supported by one of said ends; and the loop 1-2 `may be readily removed -f-rom the neck'fwhen desired bymerely spreading the ends thereof.

Suitably encased electrical conductors'iS extend between and connectthe ampl'ii'ierl-S'torthe loud speaker S6, said vf'conductors 13 passing through a portion of theA pipe 33'4 and throughsthe tubular standard5.` Aplug '14 attached tocomplementary ends ofthe conductors 13 forms'a detachable electrical connection with the amplifying `unit '52. Similarly,- two conductors15 extendbetween the amplifier@ andthe microphone 1|; saidiconductors likewise being preferably enclosed ina casing of electricaiinsulating materialy and'being connected `at-complementary endsv thereof to a plug 16 which is detachabiy connected to the amplier 52;' Two posts 1'1 are mounted on the panel 46 to which are detachablyjconnected `complementary ends of 4a pair ofconductors 18 and 13 which lead from the positive and' negative terminals of a self-contained source of 'electric current such as a battery 8311 Conductors 81| and182 rwhich are connected to the postsy 11"and electrically connected through said posts tothe conductors 18and 13, respectively, lead from theposts111andare connectedattheir opposite ends tothe amplifier 52 for supplyingelectric current` thereto. The conductor 8| Vhas amake and break, electric switch 33 interposed therein and whicnis mounted on the panel 48.M A` volumecontrolDf a conventional construction, designated 84, is mountedmnthe panel 48 and connected by, the o Wiring l. 85 to the amplifier 52.

The battery isprovided with loops 86 .on oppositesides thereof 4to which looped ends 81 of a carrying strap 86' is detachably connected, as mostrarsi in Figures; and 2.` The lloops a1 are formed by a button andeye connection 83, corresponding to the connections 50, 5| so that the loops 6.1 'may be openedfor disengaging the. strap 88 from the battery 8o Vto replace the battery, and one of the loops 51 may beopenedr for easily'removingthe battery/iii!` `and istrap 88.,from its `supported position of Figures l and Asshown in these gures, the strap 88 engages around the standard forsupporting the battery Sil yat one side of the harness, I6 and said strap is applied to the standard 56 after the harness hasbeen secured on the .wearer `and is `removed. therefrom before removal of the harness, so that Athe-weight of the battery Siiyvill not interfere withapplyns and removing the harness.,

It will be readily apparent that the amplifying una 52 may be readily-attached@ the harness is by engagingthe-hooks 54. withthel l0ops53.. The plugs 14 and 16 mayv then beconnected `toythe amplifying unit forconnectingtheloud Speaker 66 and microphonell respectivelytheretoi, The arms of theyuser maythenfbe vslippedontwargus through the shoulder straps 43 after which the straps 2li and 2l may be adjustably connected by the buckle around the waist oi the mer and, if necessary, the straps it may be adjusted by means of the buckles The slits may then be engaged buttons di for attaching the straps t to the straps for mounting the front panel at across the iront or" the body of the wearer, after which 'the battery supporting straps may be passed the standard atby its loops dl to the loops The two conductors and leading from the battery Sil may then be attached to the panel posts 'it'. rThe loop l@ is then eng about the neck and the portable amplifying s ..-t l5 is then ready for use is put in use by moving the switch 3 to a circuit closing position turning the knob ci the volume control to the desired volume. with the speaker adjusted to a desired position, as previously described, the user may walk about to any L public address whicn may obviously be used in any location either indoors or outdoors and where no electric current is available.

While the parts constituting the amplifying apparatus are of conventional construction, the mounting of said parts on and in conjunction with the harness IE5 constitutes a part of the novel cornbination.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter denned by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable self-contained ampliier comprising a detachable body engaging harness including a waist encircling member and shoulder engaging straps, rigid supporting means constituting a substantially upright rear portion oi said harness connected to and supported by the rear portion of said waist encircling member and to which said shoulder engaging straps are connected, an amplifier, means detachably suspending said amplier from said rigid supporting means, a standard secured to and rising from the upper portion of said rigid supporting means, a loud speaker mounted on the upper end of said standard and substantially above the level of the upper portion of said harness and electrically connected to the amplifier, a microphone electrically connected to the amplier, a neck engaging loop detachably supporting said microphone, a battery supplying electric current to the amplifier and detachably connected thereto, and a sling supporting said battery and detachably Supported by the harness.

2. A portable self-contained public address system as in claim l, a control panel, means detachably mounting said control panel on a iront portion of said harness, said control panel having portions electrically connected to the amplier including posts to which the battery is detachably connected, a make and break switch mounted on said panel and controlling the supply oi current to the amplifier from the battery, and a volume control unit mounted on the panel and electrically connected to the amplier including a manually operative volume regulating knob.

3. A portable public address system as in claim 1, electrical connections between the loud speaker and amplifier and the microphone and amplifier ance while talla-nig over the f Ll. A puolic system as in claim l, said J supporting means including inwardly bowed aci; engaging portions, cushioning me :inwardly bowed back enportions.

portable p" ic system as in claim i, said harness including substantially rigid side for.; ce nernbers fixed to and extending upwardly e portions or" the waist encircling memg inwardly bowed internieiiate portions, -noning means enclosing said rigid side 'i znbers.

portable public system as in claim waist encircling member including a rigid the 'ie portiong thereof and to which said side b ce members and rigid supporting means are and cushioning means disposed on the inner side of said rigid waist encircling section.

"1. A portable public address system comprising a waist and shoulder engaging harness having a rigid rear waist engaging and back engaging portion, an amplifying unit, means detachably mounting said amplifying unit on said rigid rear harness portion, a standard fixed to and rising from the upper end of said rigid rear harness portion, a loud speaker adjustably supported on the upper end of said standard substantially above the level of the upper end of the harness and electrically connected to said amplifier, a microphone electrically connected to the ampliner, a neck engaging loop connected to and supporting said microphone, a self-contained current source electrically connected to the amplier, and means demountably supporting said current source on said harness.

8. A portable public address system as in claim 7, a control panel electrically connected to the amplifier including a shutoff switch and a volume control, and means detachably mounting said control panel on a front portion of the harness.

9. A portable public address system comprising a waist and shoulder engaging harness having a rigid rear waist engaging and back engaging portion, an amplifying unit, means detachably mounting said amplifying unit on said rigid rear harness portion, a standard Xed to and rising from the upper end of said rigid rear harness portion, a loud speaker adjustably supported on the upper end of said standard substantially above the level of the upper end of the harness and electrically connected to said amplier, a microphone electrically connected to the amplifier, a self-contained current source electrically connected to the aniplier, and means demountably supporting said current source on said harness.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 

